Age dependence of thermal imaging analysis of body surface temperature in women after cryostimulation

Purpose. The aim of the study was to analyse changes in body surface temperature after a cryostimulation session in women of two different age groups. Methods. The study included 21 female university students aged 21 ± 1.8 years and 15 middle-aged women aged 57.8 ± 3.6 years. All participants were subjected to the effects of extreme low temperature in a cryogenic chamber at -120˚C for 3 min. Body surface temperature measures were taken before and immediately after treatment by a thermal imaging camera. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the captured thermographic images was performed for 12 anterior and posterior body areas in the standing position. Results. Differences in body surface temperature were found between both age groups prior to the cryostimulation treatment. Temperatures ranged from 29.55° C to 33.49° C in the younger group and 30.45° C and 32.70° C in the older group for the same body areas. Lower temperatures were observed in the older subject group for all analysed areas. After cryostimulation, greater body cooling was observed in the younger group particularly in the lower limbs. The greatest temperature reduction in both groups was observed in the lower limbs, dropping a maximum of 6.31° C, whereas the lowest variation in temperature was observed in the shoulder area by approximately 2° C. Conclusions. The results of the study showed varied distribution of body surface temperature in both age groups. Lower temperatures of the trunk and shoulders were observed in older women compared with the younger women. Greater body cooling following cryostimulation was observed in the group of younger women particularly in the area of the lower limbs.

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